How many people who are trying to lose weight eat healthy, workout and drink plenty of water, yet still can’t seem to lose any weight? They cut calories and workout longer and harder in hopes of the number on the scale dropping. But what many aren’t considering is the amount of sleep they are getting each night. Lack of sleep can play a large part in whether or not a person will lose weight.
It is recommended that the average person get 7-10 hours of sleep a night, yet most Americans sleep only 5 hours. When the body becomes sleep deprived and thus, run down, it looks for energy from another source. This usually happens in the form of food. When a person lacks sleep they have a tendency to take in 500+ additional calories a day. At the end of the week, that is 1lb worth of calories (500 calories x 7days=3500 calories=1lb). On top of the additional calories, your metabolism is also slower when you are sleep deprived. This means that your body is not burning as many calories over the course of a day that it could be if it was well rested. Now, you are fighting against two (2) factors in your weight loss journey.
Heading to bed even 30-60 minutes earlier will make you more productive during the day and assist you in your weight loss goals instead of working against you! Now who wouldn’t want that?! I know at times it may seem hard with all that is going on in our lives to figure out how we are going to squeeze in more sleep. That is why when I am working with my clients we take a look at all the activity that goes on throughout the day. What things can we shuffle around, what must get done, how we can make it work for you! Making yourself and your sleep a priority is an important part of your personal ‘recipe’. Are you ready to start losing that weight?
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*How much sleep do you average a night?
*Do you keep your bed time consistent?
*What helps ou relax before bed at night?
